Leading From a Firm Foundation Q&A

Steve Reinemund is former chairman and CEO of PepsiCo and former dean of the Wake Forest University School of Business. During his tenure as dean, the school transformed the approach to business education by integrating the undergraduate and graduate faculties, focusing on career development, emphasizing leadership and ethics, championing diversity, and raising the level of excellence in teaching. Steve retired from PepsiCo in 2007. He left a legacy marked by a strong management team, a commitment to health and wellness, diversity and inclusion, and values-based leadership.

Steve is currently a member of the board of directors of Walmart, Vertiv and the United States Naval Academy Foundation. Steve has served on the boards of ExxonMobil, Marriott, American Express and Johnson & Johnson. He served on the national advisory board of The Salvation Army for nine years and chaired the board for three years.

Steve graduated from the United States Naval Academy in 1970 , served five years as an officer in the United States Marine Corps and was honored as a U.S. Naval Academy Distinguished Graduate in 2018.  He received a master’s of business administration degree from the University of Virginia in 1978 and was awarded the Charles Abbott Award in 2007.  He has honorary doctorate degrees from Johnson and Wales University and Bryant University. Steve and his wife, Gail, have been married for over 40 years and have four children and five granddaughters.